A new journey into homesteading "pic heavy"

[tortoise]

Not many chicken vets out there. If you're not talking about anesthetic (notoriously tricky for poultry), a vet with a chicken medicine textbook and is willing to try should get it done. In theory? When DH's practice expanded to rabbits, the vet interested in rabbits bought rabbit medicine texts, did some CE training. When we moved to the farm and got sheep, goats, and chickens, DH bought sheep, goat and chicken medicine textbooks and did some chicken CE training. He's no "chicken vet", but gracious, do you really need a specialist to autopsy and culture to determine if/what antibiotic should be used? *I may be oversimplifying this grossly, I didn't run this comment by DH*

I just wanna KNOW stuff, not knowing what is making my birds sick would make me crazy. Even if they all have to be culled, it would make me nuts. Like avian influenza has very specific protocol to eradicate it from the environment after a flock is sacrificied.... if I knew what was wrong, I'd feel more confident in mitigation and future restocking.

 

[Chic Rustler]

I'm game. Where do I take the dead chicken?


Because I've been stacking them in the compost pile.

 

[tortoise]

Veterinarian, county extension, state veterinarian, USDA APHIS.

Avian flu can spread quickly and negatively affect the health of chickens within hours. In severe cases, chickens can die within a day.

Common bird flu symptoms in chickens include:

• Edema in the comb and wattles
• Purple discoloration / cyanosis of the wattles, combs, and legs
• Diarrhea
• Nasal discharge
• Soft-shelled or misshapen eggs
• Decreased egg production
• Coughing and sneezing
• Lack of coordination
• Swelling of the head, eyelids, wattles, hocks, and comb
• Lack of energy and appetite
• Pinpoint hemorrhages on feet and shanks
• Ruffled feathers

Any one of these symptoms can indicate the presence of avian flu in your flock, in addition to sudden death that comes without warning signs.

https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/avian-influenza-protect-birds-qa.pdf

My farm was in an avian influenza control zone. We were not far from quarantine zone. It's amazing how fast it can spread between farms. If the symptoms are similar to flu, it's better safe than sorry. USDA is agressive to prevent it from taking hold in the US.

 

[Chic Rustler]

What's edema?

Does it look like this?

 

[sumi]

That does look like frostbite ^^ from the pic. In defence of whoever answered you!

I did a search over on BYC and found some info from the archives on respiratory issues and treatments:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/treating-upper-respiratory-infections.755483/#post-10710001

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/best-antibiotic-for-respiratory-issues.420511/

 

[Chic Rustler]

I guess rir aren't as cold hardy as they say.

 

[NH Homesteader]

Edema just means swelling. I don't know what's up with your not-frostbitten roo, lol. I'm not a chicken expert though. I would follow @tortoise's advice. Your county extension office (should be able to find them online) would be a great resource, well in most places that have decent extension offices anyway.

 

[Chic Rustler]

ok I think I'm just gonna calm down for a min and watch them.
I put some pretty stout vitamin/electrolyte and an herb mix in the water yesterday to help boost the immune system. I haven't had any deaths from sickness yet.

This morning none of them were sneezing. I looked over the one my daughter was telling me about and didn't see any nasal discharge or hear anything in it's chest.

If it's bad they likely already all have it. If it's nothing it should clear up soon. I'm gonna wait and see what happens and go from there. I can cull the flock anytime. No need to be hasty. I put alot of work in these birds. It may already be too late. Or it may not be a big deal.

 

[Chic Rustler]

I got the number for the extension agent
Thanks! I bet he will have some vet recommendations

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Hope so. If not, you might just let it run its course. You will probably lose more birds - but the ones that survive will be tough birds and maybe, just maybe, they will build up a resistance to whatever it is and not succumb to it in the future.

But, seriously hope you can find out what it is - just in case it's more insidious than just a 'cold'.